Researching wedding photographers is not a simple task. It seems like the internet has made it easier…but, in fact, the opposite is true.
With the advent of digital cameras, even an advanced amateur can go out and blast away at an event, eventually coming up with a few good shots from their paparazzi assault and voila…instant photography website from the 20 best shots and a new photographer is born.
If only it was that easy…
What separates a pro from the herd is the ability to nail that key shot EVERY time, to make that anxious groom feel relaxed in front of the lense and frankly…to see that angle and that light that few others really SEE. A great photographer will capture the events and expressions in a way that an average photographer simply cannot match. Despite Instagram and the increases in automatic functions on cameras, experience and talent are still essentials in photography. Add to that, the ability to calculate a fair price for your talents that will keep you afloat, some serious computer skills, some time management saavy and you have a photographer who is…pardon the pun…much more than a flash in the pan.
We have been at this for longer than I care to tell you and you know what…we have seen hundreds of wedding photographers come and go. Ottawa has a dozen great wedding photographers, yet about 600 come up on a Google search. Every month a handful simply disappear…
What qualifies me to judge who is good…well, I am the only Ottawa studio owner to be awarded Canadian Photographer of the Year and am an accredited Judge of Photography of the Professional Photographers of America…
Couvrette Studio is the one they call when they need a Time Magazine cover shot on the presses within the hour or when a photographer has to travel to the Arctic circle for a photo op that lasts three minutes and simply has to be done right.
How can you compare photogs…
Well, you might want to start at the boring old Better Business Bureau site where only two studios in town have a AAA rating. Next, ask to see an entire wedding coverage (say 500 or so shots)and truly compare talent, quality and style….
http://www.couvrette-photography.on.ca/Sarkar_Mahabir_promo_slideshow_gallery/
Some questions that might make the difference…
Do you have a triple backup of the files once a wedding is shot?
Can you supply a second shooter for candids….
Does a person answer your phone during regular business hours?
Will you have my files online in a gallery within a week of the wedding…
Do you actually have a studio…or is this a part time gig…or worse yet…are you learning
to shoot weddings at MY wedding…
What is the secret to surviving and in fact thriving in this competitive industry…well, great customer service, 30+ years experience, a large Centretown studio… oh and some great staff.
Don`t just take my word for it though… http://www.couvrette-photography.on.ca/Couvrette_Reference_page/
View Comments (11)
http://weddingrepublic.com/blog/top-5-wedding-planning-regrets/
The first person who came to mind when I began thinking about my brand new venture was Paul... top of my list when it comes to referring my future clients for fabulous photography, after all if you want to be the best, you have to go to the best!
It is funny that I am reading this post. I just finished posting some wedding photos from my nephew's wedding. I was the only photographer for the wedding, but I did not get paid as that was my wedding gift to them. I would never in a million year profess to be a Wedding Photographe, r as I don't have the skill, know how or desire to be one.......it was all too nerve racking for me and something that should be left to a real Professional. I totally agree with what you have written.
I recall a professional photographer friend (35 years of wedding shooting) of mine was interviewed by the couple. Groom asked how many photos he takes at a wedding, he said after editing they would see 300-400 images. Groom said, no so-and-so will provide two shooters and take 2,500-3,000 pics, and we get all raw images, your shooting ratio is too low and they charge under a thousand. I have been to about 600 weddings, and was trained by a Master Wedding Photographer.
Excellent summary of why you should ALAWYS hire a professional photographer for your special events. Paul is still my go-to photographer after 35 years!
Hey Bernie: How are you enjoying retirement, and have I told you lately how much I hate you for being retired. Hope to talk with you during the IPWC Conference call next week.
@Dave...I wasn`t going to mention names...but yes, Claude is one of the pros I was talking about.
That's when you reply "I hope you enjoy the service they provide when you hire them" - Customers like that are not worth the trouble.
I wonder how many photos @[673866095:2048:Claude Brazeau] takes. Whatever the number, all of his I have ever seen are memorable. He is proof positive that it is worthwhile seeing what the photographer will do rather than the number of photos. I ran into an Ottawa wedding photographer who claimed to take 2500 photos at each wedding. Claude and others like him do not sell quantity of photos but the quality. Check out his website to see what al ocal(Ottawa-Gatineau) photographer can do.
Unfortunately they won't even get what they paid for. We were extremely lucky and got an experienced fashion photographer to take our wedding pictures. We were even more blessed when the sunny day had a high thin overcast cloud making things still bright, but no stark shadows. We got some amazing shots pictures of that day. But it was the photographer that made all the difference. I have never figured out why people are willing to settle for less just because it costs less.
Gosh thanks Bernie....I see Canada`s most famous Veteranarian just can`t stop and smell the roses in retirement...good luck in the new venture.